why is this case getting so much attention in so little time from the first post?
Txtrpg, because of the circumstances of the case. Let me summarize:
Little DeOrr allegedly goes camping with his dad (DeOrr Kunz Sr.) mom (Jessica Mitchell), great-grandfather (Name, unknown but we know he is 76 years old and has serious physical and mental health related problems that was ruled out as a suspect from the beginning of the investigation) and a friend of the great-grandfather, 35 year old Isaac Reindwand with a criminal history from petit theft to rape (That was amended to domestic battery) receiving possession of stolen property between many others.
They went camping to Timber Creek Road near Leadore, Idaho. A very isolated place with one road in and one road out the place. The camping itself is small. Above the campsite, there is a reservoir. The distance from Timber Creek campground to Stone Reservoir is about a quarter of a mile.
The parents allege that on Friday July 10th after a 4 1/2 hour drive to the campsite, they went as a family to a convenience store in Leadore, to get some items. Upon their return, they realized it was almost 2:00 which is the time DeOrr goes to nap so they decided to do a little exploring of the area (They claimed it was their first time there) and that Deorr was
"Going to be good with grandpa by the campfire".After 10 minutes and upon their return, they asked the great-grandfather where was little DeOrr and the man was shocked and said he thought he was with them. He was wearing pajamas, a cameo jacket and oversize cowboy boots.
Since then, the police has used more than 300 searchers, 150 dogs (Both cadaver and track dogs), helicopters, drones, horses, sonar imaging equipment, forensic experts and they came empty handed. When I say empty handed, I mean they couldn't find even ONE footprint of the boy or in the case of a possible animal attack, blood or prints that he has been dragged. They checked the dens of several wild animals and they found nothing. Not even one hair. The scent dogs just keep coming back to the campsite, we do not know if they are hitting the vehicles or what exact part of the campsite. The creek has been drained, it is very shallow and full of debris so if he was there, he would have been found.
The reservoir was an interesting thing because it was the only place the cadaver dogs made an alert but at the same time, the sheriff department discover that someone entered the reservoir (A local) and threw the cremains/ashes of their loved one there, causing the dogs to give a false-positive. It didn't stop Search and Rescue, they continued checking the reservoir and I believe it has been at least 3 times. And again, nothing.
A few interesting facts/opinions that make people interested on this case and make them question several things.
1. During the 911 call, the operator asked the mom how long the child has been missing, she said 1 hour but during the only interview they had with a local channel, they said that after 20 minutes they called 911.
2. In the interview, they stated that the boy cannot be separated from his blanket, a toy monkey and a sippy-cup but all of those items were left in the truck even though the baby was about to sleep.
3. In the interview, the father does most of the talk 98% and the mom looks distressed and almost angry. He spends the first few minutes talking about the wonderful job Search and Rescue is doing and even provides examples of the technology they use and yet hardly the name of his son is mentioned. It was bizarre.
4. They mentioned they left the boy with "Grandpa" But they never mentioned the friend of great-grandpa being there. It sounded like in the trip it was only them, the boy and great-grandpa. Why the omission?.
5. Where was great-grandpa and friend when Deorr went missing? Where exactly?
6. On the second day of the boy's disappearance, the parents believe he has been abducted.
7. A store clerk at the convenience store (The one they claimed they visited earlier) claims she saw a man with a blond, filthy child who was bawling and he was buying candy for him. She claims she saw this at 6:00pm that evening. The father says it was HIM with Deorr but the store clerk has the time wrong since they didn't leave the campsite after 1:00. The store clerk does not want to speak to the media but she is cooperative with the police.
8. Early in the investigation, the police asks the public to stop with the innuendos and rumors about the parents and call them "Solid" And they say they are not suspects. As the days pass, the police is becoming more and more silent about this case without any updates. Their last one was 10 days ago. It is quite possible that they are waiting for the 3 week period where (If the boy has drowned) the body will probably reemerged. The Lemhi County Sheriff’s Office during their last update said they are scaling back in the intensive and exhaustive search of the Timber Creek/Stone Reservoir and that they decided to redirect the investigation.
9. At the mean time, you have organizations such as the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children who reached out the family and put a poster in their web site. The eye color listed on the web site is wrong and continues being wrong as I type this.
10. The parents decline every request to be interviewed on national media even though they believe their son has been abducted.
11. A local and online newspaper agency reveals the name of the friend and all eyes and scrutiny are on him. A reporter went to his home very early in the morning and tried to talk with him about the case. The man's behavior was unique, it looked like he was not dressed and was using the door as a shield, he looked sleepy and the way he talked sounded like a child. He looked like he might have some sort of cognitive impairment. When he was asked if Deorr was with him and great-grandpa when he disappeared, he nodded in agreement and said "Uh huh as far as I know". As far as he knows?
12. Facebook groups have been shut down by family members if there is any criticism towards the family, they have also shut down groups if someone asks a question such as why they do not speak to the media and why there is no reward being offered for information. Parents have been online, mom specially posting pictures about his son disappearance but also receiving a lot of criticism after posting unrelated things such as hairstyles, funny things to do with your kids and posting a picture (And commenting) on her wall about how she would like to get a particular bracelet of a football team. Since then, she deactivated her account.
13. A couple of fundraising sites started to help the couple but still no money being offered for a reward.
14. Regardless of whether this was an accident or foul play involved, people seem to think that the parents have been very irresponsible in leaving a very active toddler with a great-grandpa who is very sick physically and mentally and a man that they allegedly, never met.
15. Both parents and the friend in question are labeled as "Persons of interest", they are still no suspects, Sheriff claims they are called POI because they were present at the campsite.
Hope this helps.